Over the last few weeks of traveling among dirt-strewn roads, Lei had, somehow, come to like the Jester. Yep, indeed, and it was because he seemed to like her enough that she couldn't help liking him back. If she ever got sores on the bottom of her feet from walking, the Jester would just carry her, even if it was for multiple miles, and even when it meant getting sores on his own feet. Whenever she tripped on something (which, let's be honest, happened a lot) there was always a hand gripping her elbow and pulling her up to her feet.
It was really strange because this person was helping her without expecting anything in return, which Lei had never even heard of before.
And, of course, whenever she asked the Jester why he was helping her, he did not say anything. Quite a mysterious person, if Lei said so herself. So now, as they walked side-by-side on a grassy path, Lei, who was lazily floating in her thoughts, didn't see the rock right below her foot and stepped on it, slipping, and about to hit the ground.
Lei reached her arms out for balance, but there was nothing to grab onto, except a random swathe of fabric that somehow found its way into arm's reach. Hoping to save her face, she grabbed the fabric and pulled on it as fast as she could, spinning around into a standing position…
… an inch from the jester's face.
Lei quickly staggered back and apologized at least 20 times, with the Jester also mumbling hasty apologies. Both of them were red now, the jester so much that Lei could see his cheeks through the white face paint.
Then they continued to walk in an awkward silence.
Finally, the path ended, and once Lei looked up, her knees suddenly gave out, and she sank to the ground. Her stomach seemed to fall to her toes, and suddenly Lei's heart was pounding loudly in her ears. The jester was next to her within a few seconds, asking what was wrong, so Lei just put her hands over her ears and tried to breathe normally.
The castle she hated so much, that had been so hard to escape.
She was back.